Josiah's Reforms and the Rediscovered Book of the Law

The event

Josiah became king at just eight years old after the brief, wicked reign of his father Amon, and by his eighteenth year he had ordered repairs to the Temple, still bearing the scars of Manasseh's idolatry. During that work, the high priest Hilkiah found "the Book of the Law" — very likely the book of Deuteronomy or a substantial portion of the Pentateuch — and had it read aloud to the king.

Josiah's reaction revealed his heart: he tore his royal robes in grief upon hearing how far Judah had strayed from what was written there, and sent his officials to the prophetess Huldah for confirmation of what it meant. Huldah confirmed the coming judgment on Judah for its idolatry, but added a personal mercy: because Josiah's heart was tender and he had humbled himself, he would not live to see the disaster fall on the nation.

Josiah responded with Judah's most thorough reform since the monarchy began: he gathered the people and read the whole Book of the Covenant aloud, led the nation in renewing its covenant with the Lord, purged every trace of idolatry from Jerusalem, the Temple, and even the old high places at Bethel that had stood since Jeroboam's day, and celebrated a Passover unlike any since the days of the judges. It stands as the last great spiritual high point before Judah's final slide toward exile.

Dating

The reforms and covenant renewal are dated to Josiah's 18th regnal year, c. 622 BC, per Thiele's chronology of a reign beginning 640 BC.

Scripture references

• 2 Kings 22-23
• 2 Chronicles 34-35